Board faces recess questions

Under public and private concerns at the Aug. 13 meeting of the Greenwood School Board, Tracey Barton expressed concern over sixth-grade students losing their recess because they are being moved to the middle school this year. She suggested they be given some time during their lunch period to go outside.

Barton also asked about the response of the wellness committee to her concerns expressed at the May meeting about requiring elementary students to walk the track for 15 minutes, twice a week, during their recess and the negative feelings it is creating among students.

She thinks children should be given unstructured play time during recesses rather than required exercise.

Board member Peter Duncan, who serves on the wellness committee, noted that he brought her concerns before the committee, which stands by its belief that the walking program is in the best interest of the children.

Barton suggested that giving the children more creative choices by setting up different stations from which students could choose an activity they enjoy would create a more positive attitude.

The next wellness committee meeting will be held sometime in mid-September and is open to the public.

In other news from the Aug. 13 meeting:

— Athletic director Adam Sheaffer announced the fall sports season has begun with 35 students out for field hockey and 35 students out for soccer.

— MS/HS principal Nicholas Guarente reported that the Newport school band is trying to go competitive and would like the Greenwood band to enter into a cooperative agreement, which would require Greenwood's band members to give a 100 percent commitment. If not, Greenwood's members may gradually be phased out of their band program.

Board member William Tilghman suggested seeking input from the band boosters before any agreement is made.

— Superintendent Ed Burns reported that the elementary school construction project is on schedule and is 95 percent complete. The middle school/high school guidance, health and athletic director's offices, as well as some flooring, still need to be completed. School will open in both buildings on Aug. 25.

— Business manager Lori Bower recommended that the district consider participating in an energy purchasing consortium through Strategic Energy.

— The board approved a $325,856 contract with Metz Inc. as the cafeteria service provider for 2008-09. The board also approved cafeteria prices: Elementary and secondary building (K-12) breakfast, $1; elementary lunches (K-5), $1.75; secondary lunches (6-12), $2; and all adult lunches, $3.

— The board approved using a consignment business for used furniture.

— Giovanna Azeved of Brazil will attend Greenwood as a foreign exchange student this school year.

— A half-time "Classrooms of the Future' technology coach is to be hired.
Greenwood received a $74,691 "Classrooms of the Future' grant for technology education to be used for student laptops and poly-vision smart boards.

An additional $30,000 grant was awarded to enable the district to hire the half-time coach to assist the teachers with implementing the classroom technology and curriculum integration.

— Brandon Bowersox was hired as a full-time custodian, along with part-time classroom custodians Tiffany Dehaven of Thompsontown, Jennifer Shetterly and Donna Myers of Millerstown, Jed Varner of McAlisterville and Brenda Smitherson of Liverpool.

— Dana Gantt was hired as a middle school girls' basketball coach, and Matt Blair as an elementary education substitute.